Our Stolen Future: A list of endocrine-disrupting compounds

a book by Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski, and John Peterson Myers

Widespread Pollutants
with Endocrine-disrupting Effects

[background information about some common EDCs]

Information is regularly added to this page.
If you have additions--new data on chemicals, references,
corrections or things we missed, etc.--
send information here

Persistent organohalogens

Compound(s)	Hormone system affected	Mechanism if known	References
Benzenehexachloride (BHC)	Thyroid		Akhtar et al. 1996
1,2-dibromoethane	Reproductive		Brittebo et al. 1987
Chloroform	Reproductive		Brittebo et al. 1987
Dioxins and furans (in order of antiestrogenic potency : 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin > 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran > 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-furan > 1,2,3,7,9-pentachlorodibenzofuran > 1,3,6,8-tetrachlo-rodibenzofuran)	Estrogen	work as anti-estrogen through binding with Ah receptor, which then inhibits estrogen receptor binding to estrogen response elements, thereby inhibiting estrogen action	Krishnan and Safe 1993 Klinge et al. 1999
Octachlorostyrene	Thyroid		Sandan et al. 2000
PBBs	Estrogen/ Thyroid		Bahn et al. 1980 Henderson et al. 1995
PCBs (in order of antiestrogenic potency: 3,3' -pentachlorobiphenyl > 3,3,4,4,5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl 3,3',4,4-tetrachlorobiphenyl > 2,3,3',4,4',5'-hexa, 2,3,3',4,4'- and 2,3,4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl > Aroclors 1221, 1232. 1248, 1254, and 1260 were inactive as antiestrogens at the highest concentrations used in this study (10-6 Ni)	Estrogen/androgen/Thyroid Adverse outcomes in reproductive systems.	Inhibits estrogen binding to the receptor; works as anti-estrogen. anti-androgenic via Ah receptor interaction	Korach et al. 1988 Zoeller et al. 2000 Grey et al. 1999
PCB, hydroxylated	Thyroid	Binds to thyroid hormone binding protein, but not to the thyroid hormone receptor.	Cheek et al. 1999
PBDEs	Thyroid	Interfere with thyroxine (T4) binding with transthryetin	Ilonka et al. 2000
Pentachlorophenol	Thyroid	Reduces thyroid hormone possibly through a direct effect on the thyroid gland.	Bear et al. 1999 Gerhard et al. 1999

Food Antioxidant

Compound	Hormone system affected	Mechanism	References
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)	Estrogen	Inhibits binding to the estrogen receptor.	Jobling et al. 1995

Pesticide (for information organized by pesticide class)

Compound	Hormone system affected	Mechanism	References
Acetochlor	Thyroid (decrease of thyroid hormone levels, increase in TSH)		Hurley et al. 1998
Alachlor	Thyroid (decrease of thyroid hormone levels, increase in TSH)		Wilson et al. 1996
Aldrin	Estrogen	Binds to estrogen receptors; competes with estradiol.	Jorgenson 2001
Allethrin, d-trans	Estrogen		Go et al. 1999
Amitrol	Thyroid	Thyroid peroxidase inhibitors; inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis.	Hurley et al. 1998
Atrazine	Neuroendocrine-pituitary (depression of LH surge), testosterone metabolism.	Inhibits ligand binding to androgen and estrogen receptors.	Danzo 1997
Carbaryl	Estrogen and progesterone		Klotz et al. 1997
Chlofentezine	Thyroid	Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone.	Hurley et al. 1998
Chlordane	Testosterone and progesterone		Willingham et al. 2000
Cypermethrin	Disruption of reproductive function		Moore and Waring 2001
DDT	Estrogen	DDT and related compounds act in a number of ways to disrupt endocrine function by binding with the estrogen receptor, including estrogen mimickry and antagonism, altering the pattern of synthesis or metabolism of hormones, and (4) modifying hormone receptor levels	Soto et al. 1994 Lascombe et al. 2000 Kupfer et al. 1980 Rajapakse et al. 2001
DDT Metabolite, p,p'-DDE	Androgen	Inhibits androgen binding to the androgen receptor, androgen-induced transcriptional activity, and androgen action in developing, pubertal and adult male rats.	Kelce 1995
Dicofol (Kelthane)	Estrogen		Vinggaard et al. 1999
Dieldrin	Estrogen	Binds to estrogen receptor;competes with estradiol.	Soto et al. 1994 Jorgenson 2001
Endosulfan	Estrogen		Soto et al. 1994 Soto et al. 1995
Ethylene thiourea	Thyroid	Thyroid peroxidase inhibitor.	Hurley et al. 1998
Fenarimol	Estrogen	Estrogen receptor agonist.	Vinggaard et al. 1999
Fenbuconazole	Thyroid	Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone.	Hurley et al. 1998
Fenitrothion	Antiandrogen	Competitive androgen receptor antagonist.	Tamura et al. 2001
Fenvalerate	Estrogen		Go et al. 1999
Fipronil	Thyroid	Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone.	Hurley et al. 1998
Heptachlor	Thyroid		Akhtar et al. 1996 Reuber 1987
Heptachlor-epoxide	Thyroid/Reproductive	Metabolite of heptachlor	Reuber 1987
Iprodione	Inhibition of testosterone synthesis		Benhamed 1996
Karate	Thyroid	A decrease of thyroid hormone in serum; direct effect on the thyroid gland?	Akhtar et al. 1996
Kepone (Chlordecone)	Estrogen	Displays androgen and estrogen receptor-binding affinities.	Waller et al. 1996 Soto et al. 1994 McLachlan(ed)
Ketoconazole	Effects on reproductive systems		Marty et al. 1999 Marty et al. 2001
Lindane (Hexachlorocyclohexane)	Estrogen/Androgen	Inhibits ligand binding to androgen and estrogen receptors.	Danzo 1997
Linuron	Androgen	Androgen receptor antagonist.	Waller et al. 1996 Lambright et al. 2000 Grey et al. 1999
Malathion	Thyroid	Significant decrease of thyroid hormone in serum, with perhaps a direct effect on the thyroid gland.	Akhtar et al. 1996
Mancozeb	Thyroid	Thyroid peroxidase inhibitors.	Hurley et al. 1998
Maneb	Thyroid	The metabolite ethylenthiourea inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis.	Toppari et al. 1995
Methomyl	Thyroid		Porter et al. 1993 Klotz et al. 1997
Methoxychlor	Estrogen	Through mechanisms other than receptor antagonism. Precise mechanism still unclear.	Pickford and Morris 1999
Metribuzin	Thyroid		Porter et al. 1993
Mirex	Antiandrogenic activity; inhibits production of LH. Potentially thyroid.		Chen et al. 1986 Chernoff et al. 1976
Nitrofen	Thyroid	Structural similarities to the thyroid hormones; nitrofen or its metabolite may have thyroid hormone activities.	Stevens and Summer 1991
Nonachlor, trans-	Estrogen	Estrogen receptor agonist?	Willingham et al. 2000
Oxychlordane	Reproductive		Guillette et al. 1999
Pendimethalin	Thyroid	Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone.	Hurley et al. 1998
Pentachloronitrobenzene	Thyroid	Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone.	Hurley et al. 1998
Permethrin	Estrogenic		Go et al. 1999
Procymidone	Androgen	Androgen receptor antagonist.	Ostby et al. 1999 Grey et al. 1999
Prodiamine	Thyroid	Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone.	Hurley et al. 1998
Pyrimethanil	Thyroid	Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone.	Hurley et al. 1998
Sumithrin	Androgen		Go et al. 1999
Tarstar	Thyroid	A decrease of thyroid hormone in serum; direct effect on the thyroid gland?	Akhtar et al. 1996
Thiazopyr	Thyroid	Enhances secretion of thyroid hormone.	Hurley et al. 1998
Thiram	Neuroendocrine-pituitary (depression of LH surge), thyroid (decrease of T4, increase of TSH)		Stoker et al. 1993
Toxaphene	Estrogen/ Thyroid		Soto et al. 1994
Triadimefon	Estrogen	Estrogen receptor agonist.	Vinggaard et al. 1999
Triadimenol	Estrogen	Estrogen receptor agonist	Vinggaard et al. 1999
Tributyltin	Reproductive		Horiguchi et al. 2000
Trifluralin	Reproductive/ Metabolic		Rawlings et al. 1998
Vinclozolin	Androgen	Anti-androgenic. (Competes with androgens for the androgen receptor (AR), inhibits AR-DNA binding, and alters androgen-dependent gene expression.)	Soto et al. 1994 Soto et al. 1995 Kelce et al. 1994 Grey et al. 1999
Zineb	Thyroid	The metabolite ethylenthiourea inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis.	Toppari et al. 1995
Ziram	Thyroid	Inhibits the iodide peroxidase. Structural similarities between ziram and thiram; ziram can be metabolized to thiram in the environment.	Marinovich et al. 1997

Phthalate

Compound	Hormones affected	Mechanism	References
Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)	Estrogen	Inhibits binding to the estrogen receptor	Jobling et al. 1995
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP)	Estrogen Androgen	Inhibits binding to the estrogen receptor. anti-androgenic	Jobling et al. 1995 Harris et al. 1997 Grey et al. 1999
Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)	Estrogen Androgen	Inhibits binding to the estrogen receptor. anti-androgenic	Jobling et al. 1995 Harris et al. 1997 Moore et al. 2001 Grey et al. 1999
Diethyl Phthalate (DEP)	Estrogen		Harris et al. 1997

Other Compounds

Compound	Hormones affected	Mechanism	References
Benzophenone	Estrogen	Binds weakly to estrogen receptors, roles of its metabolite remain to be clarified.	Schlumpf et al. 2001
Bisphenol A	Estrogen	Estrogenic; binds to estrogen receptor	Fisher et al. 1999 Anderson et al. 1999 Rajapakse et al. 2001
Bisphenol F	Estrogen	Estrogenic; b inds to estrogen receptor	Perez et al. 1998
Benzo(a)pyrene	Androgen	anti-androgenic	Thomas 1990
Carbendazim	Reproductive		Gray et al. 1990
Ethane Dimethane Sulphonate	Reproductive		Gray et al. 1999
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)	Thyroid, reproductive	suppression of T3,T4; mechanism unknown	3M data
Nonylphenol, octylphenol	Estrogen	Estrogen receptor agonists; reduces estradiol binding to the estrogen receptor.	Soto et al. 1991 Soto et al. 1995 Danzo 1997 Lascombe et al. 2000 Rajapakse et al. 2001
Resorcinol	Thyroid		Lindsay et al. 1989
Styrene dimers and trimers	Estrogen	Estrogen receptor agonists	Ohyama et al. 2001

Metals

Compound	Hormones affected	Mechanism	References
Arsenic	Glucocorticoid	Selective inhibition of DNA transcription normally stimulated by the glucocorticoid-GR complex.	Kaltreider et al. 2001
Cadmium	Estrogenic	Activates estrogen receptor through an interaction with the hormone-binding domain of the receptor.	Stoica et al. 2000 Johnson et al. 2003
Lead	Reproductive		Telisman et al. 2000 Hanas et al. 1999
Mercury	Reproductive/ Thyroid		Facemire et al. 1995

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